Victorian Earthquake

[mightytiges]

5.9   ( confirmed just now as Victoria's largest earthquake on record )

Epicentre between Mansfield and Rawson.

Structural damage to buildings. 100 call outs to emergency authorities. 55 of those in Metro Melb for minor damage (eg: chimneys).

Aftershocks of 3.5, 4.1, 2.5, 3.1, 2.4 & 2.9.



ps. My poor budgie Sunshine freaked out as he was in his cage when it shook.  Took off around the house and he wouldn't go back into his cage for 15 minutes. He's ok now.

[WilliamPowell]

It was bloody scary. Wasn't sure at first what was happening. I'm on holidays this week so was actually making breakfast when the entire house started shaking

We've had no after shocks where I live since the initial tremor around 9.15am

Our oldest dog Flame who's recovering from an operation she had last week completely freaked out

Our youngest and biggest the 50kg Malamute joined her. He was really spooked

Our middle one Nisha (Malamute) was ...well Nisha, not fazed on the slightest

Have to say I've never experienced anything like it in my life

[Chuck17]

felt it in Sydney

[Francois Jackson]

Yep felt it in the south east.

Felt one about 9 years ago which lasted about 5 seconds and the centre then was moe.

This was a level higher.

Anyone feel the aftershocks? We didn’t here .

[mightytiges]

Yep felt it in the south east.

Felt one about 9 years ago which lasted about 5 seconds and the centre then was moe.

This was a level higher.

Anyone feel the aftershocks? We didn’t here .

With the one 9 years ago, I only noticed it as the desk chair I was sitting in jolted. However, this one was bigger as the whole house shook.

I'm in the south/south-east and fortunately didn't feel any aftershocks here either.

[Damo]

It’s interesting the reactions.
5.9 is actually a baby, but in Australia we hardly have any earthquakes of note so it’s a big deal and amazingly the biggest on record. The difference between a 5.9 quake and a 7+ quake is astronomical.

The island I live on in the Philippines was obliterated in 2013 (Bohol). They have between 100 and 150 earthquakes felt a year throughout the Philippines and average over 20 earthquakes a day (smaller ones). They had a 5.0 quake today which isn’t newsworthy.

We have our own problems they don’t have (fire, hail etc).

[Andyy]

Was on the phone in my office. I was curious at the length of it but otherwise not fussed at all.

I believe the Richter scale indicates that the strength of the earthquake doubles every full point? So 7 is more than twice the power of a 5.9

[taztiger4]

Was on the phone in my office. I was curious at the length of it but otherwise not fussed at all.

I believe the Richter scale indicates that the strength of the earthquake doubles every full point? So 7 is more than twice the power of a 5.9

6 is 10 times more powerful than a 5 etc, is my understanding

[Damo]

Not correct
That was the case with the old Richter Scale.

The following article explains it pretty well

https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-fg-mexico-earthquake-magnitude-20170921-htmlstory.html